Sid Sharkey
Sidney Denis “S.D.” Sharkey was born in 1866 at Mudgee, New South Wales, the son of Denis and Sarah Sharkey. He resided at Mungindi on the New South Wales/Queensland border prior. Sharkey came to Lightning Ridge in the early years of the opal rush.
“Mr. S. D. Sharkey, says the “Mungindi News,” recently paid a visit to the opal fields at Lightning Ridge, and was very much struck with the future prospects of the place. He assures us that there were, at the time of his visit, between 250 and 300 men on the field, most of whom were getting a fair amount of opal, and doing well.”
By late 1906 Sharkey was established at Old Town, where he opened a combined shop, hairdressing salon, and billiard room. He advertised men’s mercery (textiles), tobacco, and amusements. His shopfront was one of the first substantial galvanised iron buildings at Lightning Ridge. Meetings of the Progress Association (of which Sharkey was secretary from its foundation in 1907) were often held at his premises. Sharkey was treasurer of the Lightning Ridge branch of the Labor League.
Sharkey petitioned the Department of Public Works for a government tank and promoted the advancement of the town. In February 1909 he was present when Miss Rawson, daughter of Sir Harry Rawson, Governor of New South Wales, visited Lightning Ridge. On behalf of the miners, he presented her with a black opal, supplied by Ted Bishop.
Early in 1909 Sharkey applied for a Western Lands lease in the New Town. Shortly afterward he sold his Old Town business to Harry Leonard.
Sid Sharkey fell ill with stomach cancer in May of 1909, and died in September at the Home of Peace Hospital, Marrickville, aged 43. He was buried at the Church of England Cemetery, Rookwood Necropolis.
Article: Research by Russell Gawthorpe and Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: 'Lightning Ridge', The Moree News, 7 August 1906, p. 6; Walgett Spectator, 2 March 1907, 20 February 1909, 18 June 1909, 24 September 1909; ‘Among the Labor Leagues’, The Star, 29 March 1909, p. 12; ‘Family Notices’, Daily Telegraph, 12 May 1909, p. 16; ‘Lightning Ridge’, The Cobar Herald, 18 May 1909, p. 3; Lightning Ridge: The Land of Black Opals, Ion L. Idriess, 1940, pp. 114-115; The Lightning Ridge Book, Stuart Lloyd, 1967, pp. 107-108, 186, 221-222, 224; Lightning Flash Newspaper, 10 May 1979; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 16.